Michigan to Host No. 6 Northwestern, No. 3 Louisville this Weekend at Ocker Field

» No. 2 Michigan host No. 6 Northwestern at 6 p.m. Friday and No. 3 Louisville at noon on Sunday at Ocker Field.
» The Wolverines' 9-0 start is the best in program history; U-M and Iowa are the only remaining unbeaten teams.
» Michigan leads the nation in scoring average (4.57) and scoring margin (3.79), while Sofia Southam leads the nation with 2.00 goals per game.

THIS WEEK
Fri., Oct. 8 -- vs. #6 Northwestern (Phyllis Ocker Field), 6 p.m.
TV: B1G+ | Live Stats | Live Video
Sun., Oct. 10 -- vs. Louisville (Phyllis Ocker Field), Noon
TV: B1G+ | Live Stats | Live Video

PROMOTIONS
• Oct. 8: Maize Pom Pom Giveaway
• Oct. 10: Wolverine Kids Club Day, Dollar Dogs, Fan Flag Giveaway, Postgame Autographs
• Full Promotions Schedule

• Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
• Game Day Information: Phyllis Ocker Field Information | Free Admission

The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team (9-0, 2-0 Big Ten) hosts a pair of top-10 opponents this weekend at Phyllis Ocker Field, welcoming No. 6 Northwestern (9-3, 1-2 Big Ten) at 6 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 8) before wrapping the weekend with a noon slate against No. 3 Louisville (11-1) on Sunday (Oct. 10). Both contests will be streamed live on B1G+.

Wolverine Bites

• Michigan's 9-0 start is the best in program history. U-M's previous best was a 7-0 start in 1987, before tying its eighth game that season. The Wolverines have outscored their opposition 41-6 over the win streak. Michigan and Iowa (12-0) are the only remaining undefeated teams this season.

• Michigan continues to lead the nation in several offensive categories, including scoring average (4.57) and scoring margin (3.79). Fifteen different Wolverines have already scored goals this season -- more 70 percent of field players who have appeared this season.

• Sofia Southam leads the nation with a 2.00 goals-per-game average this season and ranks second with 14 total goals -- behind North Carolina's two-time NFHCA National Player of the Year Erin Matson with 15. Southam has tallied at least one goal in all seven of her appearance this season and boasts four multi-goal games and four game-winners. She entered the season with 11 career goals, while her previous season best was five as a freshman.

• Michigan ranks fourth nationally with a 0.78 goals-against average, while senior goalkeeper Anna Spieker individually lists seventh with a 0.88 GAA. The Wolverines have earned shutouts in four of their nine games this season. With 20 career complete-game shutouts, Spieker now shares the second spot on Michigan's career leaders list, tied with Laure Pieri (20, 1976-79). Sam Swenson (2014-17) owns the program record with 23 career shutouts.

• The Wolverines remain No. 2 in the latest NFHCA rankings, after previous holding the top spot for three weeks -- and for the first time in program history. U-M owns five wins over ranked teams: No. 1 North Carolina (3-2, Aug. 27), No. 11 Wake Forest (2-0, Aug. 29), No. 25 Michigan State (6-1, Sept. 24), No. 23 Kent State (2-1, Sept. 26) and No. 18 Ohio State (1-0, Oct. 3). The Big Ten Conference boasts six teams in the top 10, including five of the top six. [ NFHCA Coaches Poll ]

Scouting the Opposition

Northwestern -- The Wildcats are 9-3 on the season and 1-2 in Big Ten play after falling to Penn State 2-1 in double overtime in their most recent outing (Oct. 3). Bente Baekers boasts 10 goals and seven assists to lead Northwestern in scoring, while goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz owns the bulk of the minutes in the cage, carrying a 1.26 goals-against average and .756 save percentage. Michigan trails in the all-time series against the Wildcats 34-30 but has claimed eight of the last 12 meetings. The teams split a pair of regular-season meetings at Ocker Field last spring, with U-M winning 3-2 in the conference matchup before falling in overtime 1-0 in non-conference action.

Louisville -- The Cardinals enter the weekend with an 11-1 record and have won each of their last four games, including double-overtime decisions against Ohio State (2-1, Sept. 27) and Wake Forest (2-1, Oct. 1). Louisville's lone loss was a 2-0 shutout against Iowa (Sept. 19). Katie Schneider leads Louisville with seven goals and 17 points, while goalkeeper Mila de Kuijer owns a 0.71 goals-against average and .820 save percentage. Michigan leads the all-time series against Louisville 10-4, dating back to 1990. The Wolverines have claimed four of the last six meetings, including a 2-1 shootout victory in the NCAA semifinals last spring.

Last Time Out

The Wolverines earned a 1-0 win against rival and No. 18-ranked Ohio State in Columbus last Sunday (Oct. 3), with senior Sofia Southam netting the game's lone goal at the 36:21 mark early in the second half. Michigan largely dominated the contest, outshooting the Buckeyes 16-3 and outcornering them 8-1. Senior goalkeeper Anna Spieker did not face a shot on goal en route to the shutout victory. [ Full Recap ]

Up Next

Fri., Oct. 15 -- at Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa), 2 p.m. CDT
Sun., Oct. 17 -- at Indiana (Bloomington, Ind.), Noon